The Real Reason Karen Laine Retired From Good Bones

Good Bones, a house-flipping show which premiered on HGTV in 2016, features the lovable mother-daughter duo, Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen Laine. The partners, who worked as a waitress and lawyer respectively before landing the show, have charmed viewers with their playful banter and creative approach to renovating properties around their hometown of Indianapolis. Mina and Karen affectionately named their business Two Chicks and a Hammer, a venture that has spurned five seasons of reality TV goodness. "I think the best part of this is, it's ride or die," Karen told House Beautiful about working alongside her daughter. "We have to see each other every day, no matter how happy or annoyed we are about it. But there's this background security of it. This is my daughter, I am her mother, and that's never going to change."

Despite the show's success and the joy they've found working together, this dynamic duo split up in September 2019, when Karen's retirement from Good Bones was announced. The news was a big disappointment to many viewers, as one fan expressed on Instagram, "Omg, you will truly be missed! The two of you are so good together!"

So has Karen's time on Good Bones truly come to an end? Here's what's next for the home renovation star.

Karen Laine opened up about her decision to retire in a blog post for Two Chicks and a Hammer, writing, "Although it is hard to leave this wonderful group of people, it is exactly how wonderful and capable they are that makes me comfortable leaving. I have complete confidence that the company Mina and I founded, based on the novel idea of improving neighborhoods by rehabilitating the worst houses in a neighborhood, one house at a time, has a bright future!" She added, "I won't be far, and will likely just be puttering in the yard!" 

Eagle-eyed fans might have noticed Karen's mention that she "won't be far," and as it turns out, she's not completely done with the show. What has changed? She's focusing her newfound time "on DIY projects rather than renovating entire homes," as Deadline noted.

When Karen isn't getting her DIY on, she'll take full advantage of her retirement. The reality star noted that she's looking forward to drinking more Prosecco, riding her Harley, golfing, and spending time with her partner, Roger, to list a few activities.

As we wait and see how Karen Laine's retirement will unfold, take a minute to check out the big secrets these HGTV stars tried to hide.